Faculty Spotlight

Alan Grinnell

I have long-term interests in mechanisms of neurotransmitter release and the modulation of that release.
Further, I am interested in trophic and inductive interactions between nerve and muscle governing the
structure and efficacy of synapses, specificity of synapse formation, and regulation of pre- and
post-synaptic properties. Another long-term interest is in sensory physiology, with emphasis on neural
adaptations and mechanisms of information processing for echolocation in bats. What is the mental image a
bat obtains from the echoes returning from one emitted pulse? Finally, and in a totally different vein,
I have a long-standing interest in pre-Colombian iconography, and what it can tell us about these
cultures. My particular interest is in the evolution and interpretation of Panamanian pre-Colombian
iconography.